Two hungry diners were arrested for multiple “dining and shopping” at British restaurants and taking away free meals totaling more than $1,200, with police initially not treating the scheme as an emergency.
Ann, 39, and Bernard McDonagh, 41, from Sandsfield, Port Talbot, Wales, are accused of dining at five restaurants within a 30-mile radius of each other and leaving without paying their bill, according to Metro.
The McDonaghs were arrested and charged with five counts of fraud (obtaining services dishonestly).
Ann McDonagh was also charged with four counts of theft, the South Wales Police announced.
Scammers repeatedly stole the free meals because local law enforcement did not treat the calls as an emergency, according to a restaurant owner.
“They use the same process with premeditation and continue to steal without any consequences,” said Spanish and Italian restaurant La Casona.
The cheap customers dined at their targeted establishment with four other people.
After ordering and eating their copious meals, which often cost more than $400, four members of the group quickly walked out, leaving Ann McDonagh and a small child behind to “pay” the bill.
“The woman tried to pay with a card which was refused. She said she would get another card in the car. We asked the boy to stay and wait for him at the restaurant. She left and 10 seconds later the boy started running towards the car,” the restaurant claimed.
The homeowners were informed by police that it was not an emergency and all they could do was report the incident.
“We sent CCTV footage, photos and even the license plate number. The response was: ‘This vehicle is connected to many people…’”
“I have been waiting for two months for any contact from the police. They didn’t even check the CCTV recordings I sent them after it happened,” Kinga Szczesniak, director of La Casona, told Metro.
With no news since their initial call, management took matters into their own hands.
The restaurant posted its story and CCTV photos on Facebook to draw attention to repeat offenders plaguing the local dining scene.
“Yesterday they asked me for recordings again,” she said. “I said I’ve sent them before. The answer was, “It was a long time ago,” so they don’t have them. »
A day before the social media post was published, “another recently opened restaurant, Bella Ciao,” fell victim to the family’s nefarious plot.
“We also found out that they robbed the River House restaurant last year in August. All the restaurants reported it to the police. Will we have an answer? Will justice be served? We don’t think so… They use the same process with premeditation and continue to steal without any consequences.
South Wales Police did not provide further information as “our investigation is ongoing”.
New York Post
